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Malcolm X (Spartanburg Library)

Event details

Malcolm X performed by Darrick Johnson

Malcolm X is still seen as one of the most controversial figures — from one of the most highly charged periods in American history. His assassination and those of JFK, MLK and RFK rocked the nation. There is nothing more powerful and revolutionary than a martyr’s cause.

While alive Malcolm X was a polarizing figure who both energized and divided African Americans, while frightening and alienating whites. Now, fifty-six years after his death, we are still coming to grips with the complexity and power of his revolutionary message.

In 2007 Darrick was chosen to portray Malcolm X in the stage play, The Meeting, a fictionalized drama which questions: what would happen had Malcolm X and Martin L. King attempted to join forces. Darrick’s resemblance to Malcolm X and the his resonance with the story of the Malcolm X story was so profound that he developed a one-man show to tell Malcolm’s story. And he has been telling it ever since.

Actor, playwright, poet and author, Darrick Johnson, uses his creative talents to teach through the creative arts – to enlighten, educate and entertain. He is an advocate for change and his is a voice of hope and encouragement. He’s the Artistic Director of “By any Means Edu-tainment” featuring artists who use their creative talents to challenge and stimulate minds in hopes of influencing and transforming lives. He has written, directed and starred in In the Name of Love, and Same Goal Different View Love is Revolutionary.

Deemed controversal, accused of being an advocate of violence, but never was he ever associated with violence or public distrubance what so ever. “Brother minister Malcolm the Revolutionary” boldly stressed – cultural pride, self sufficiency and self defense against violence being committed on fellow human beings who just happen to be Black!

He inspired generations, past and present to resist racism “By any means necessary.” A true revolutionary who devoted his life to drastically change unjust conditions, during what many refer to as America’s Third Revolution – The Negro or rather Black Revolution that intended to change America.

Malcolm spoke of the frustrations of many who no longer believed in turning the other cheek. Instead he drastically changed minds.

His life was a battle of ideas in which he responded to institutional racism and segregation with tactics that evolved beyond the struggle for civil rights. Instead Malcolm demanded that America restore the human rights of Afro Americans. He drastically changed his life from a criminal with an 8th grade education to becoming one the most powerful intellectuals in American history. Malcolm X is indeed a true Revolutionary.

You’re living at a time of extremism, a time of revolution – a time where there’s got to be a change. People in power have misused it. And now there has to be a change and a better world has to be built. And the only way it is going to be built is with extreme methods. And I for one will join with anyone, don’t care what color you are, as long as you want to change this miserable condition that exists on this earth.

One of the first things I think young people, especially nowadays, should learn is how to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself. Then you can come to an intelligent decision for yourself. If you form the habit of going by what you hear others say about someone, or going by what others think about someone, instead of searching that thing out for yourself and seeing for yourself, you will be walking west when you think you’re going east, and you will be walking east when you think you’re going west.

Don’t be in a hurry to condemn because he doesn’t do what you do or think as you think or as fast. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.

There is no better teacher than adversity. In every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.

Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.

I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.

I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those that do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the systems of exploitation.

I am neither a fanatic nor a dreamer. I am a Black man who loves peace, and justice, and loves his people.

I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation – EVERY form of discrimination. I believe in human beings, and that all human begins should be respected as such, regardless of their color.

If you stick a knife in my back nine inches and pull it out six inches, there’s no progress. If you pull it all the way out that’s not progress. Progress is healing the wound that the blow made. And they haven’t pulled the knife out, much less healed the wound. They even admit the knife is there.

I am neither a fanatic nor a dreamer. I am a black man who loves peace, and justice, and loves his people.

I am not a racist. I am against every form of racism and segregation – Every form of discrimination.

I believe in human beings, and that al human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color

I for one believe that if you give people a thorough understanding of what confronts them and the basic causes that produce it, they’ll create their own program, and when the people create a program, you get action.

Concerning nonviolence, it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.

There is no better teacher than adversity. In every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance next time.

We are not Americans, we’re Afrikans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Afrika. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock – that rock landed on us.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley (1964)
As told to him by Malcolm X, Alex Haley explores how Malcolm rose from street hustler and criminal to become one of the most profound Revolutionaries in American history.

The Ballot or the Bullet, speech by Malcolm X (April 3, 1964)
One of the most powerful speeches in American history, Malcolm X speaks about Black Nationalism during the 1964 election year, when blacks did not have much say in who they wanted to elect. Malcolm wanted them to vote for whomever best benefited blacks.

Malcolm X Speaks, selected speeches edited by George Breitman (1965)
The major speeches made by Malcolm X during the last tumultuous eight months of his life. “The Ballot or the Bullet Speech” by Malcolm X April 3, 1964 is included and is a must read.

The Victims of Democracy: Malcolm X and the Black Revolution by Eugene Victor Wolfenstein (1981)
A unique psychological biographical study that integrates a wide and subtle view of the history of white racism and the black liberation movement with a deep and sensitive understanding of the inner world of Malcolm X.

The Diary of Malcolm X 1964 by Herb Boyd and Malcolm X’s daughter Ilyasah Shabazz (2013)
A personal collection of Malcolm X’s thoughts and observations of the people he meets experiencing the hajj in the Islamic holy city of Mecca.

Growing up X by Ilyasah Shabazz (2002)
The 3rd of Malcolm’s 6 daughters who was present when their father was murdered, at age 3. She doesn’t remember, but she does express the physiological effects his murder had on her family and the perceptions she was forced to deal with growing up the daughter of one of the most powerful and controversial men in American history.

Marked Man: The Assassination of Malcolm X by Matt Doeden (2013)Few were shocked by news of Malcolm X’s death. Since 1952 the former member of the NOI had supported the philosophy of self-defense as the method to achieve justice for blacks. But in March 1964, after a major shift in his philosophy, Malcolm changed his message. He no longer agreed with and feuded with NOI leaders. He knew that someone would try to kill him. Nearly one year later, that time finally came. The 39-year-old was shot in public at point-blank range.

Fighting for Our Place in the Sun by Richard D. Benson II (2015)
An examination of the life of Malcolm X as not only a radical political figure, but also as a teacher and mentor. The book illuminates the tenets of Malcolm educational philosophy, and also traces a historical trajectory of Black activists that sought to create spaces of liberation and learning that are free from cultural and racial oppression. It explains a side of the Black student movement and shift in black power that develops as a result of the student protests in North Carolina and Duke University.